Stadium (1)

Stadium (1)

View of the length of the stadium looking east.  In the lower right quadrant, the tunnel leading into the stadium is visible (four people are visible in it).  The finish line is visible as is the length of the 629 ft. [191.78 m.] track.

The embankments on the right (south) and left (north) sides of the track are where the spectators sat.  There were no permanent seats, married women were not allowed into the stadium, and the seating capacity was close to 40,000.  This version of the stadium dates to about 400 B.C. and it is larger than its predecessor.

 

Note on the right (southern) embankment a rectangular outline of stones.  This is where the judges and officials sat.  On the left (northern) embankment a stone projection is visible.  This was a stone altar on which the Eleian priestess of Demeter Chamyne sat.  Elis was the name of the local city that controlled the sacred precinct of Olympia.

 

This restored form of the stadium is similar  to the one that existed in the fourth century B.C.

 

For a description of Olympia and a map Click Here.